TV news cameraman punched, robbed of camera outside North Oakland high school

OAKLAND -- A television news cameraman who had just finished a live shot with a reporter outside Oakland Technical High School on Wednesday afternoon was punched in the face and robbed of his camera by a group of young men, police said.

The KPIX Channel 5 cameraman declined medical treatment at the scene, telling police he would contact his own doctor.

The attack happened about 12:08 p.m. outside the school in the 4300 block of Broadway.

The two had just finished a live shot for the station's noon news when five young men rushed up, with one of them hitting the cameraman before they fled in a car with the camera, police said. The reporter was not injured, police said.

Police were trying to see if the suspects were connected to the school. Authorities said they were told the camera was worth more than $20,000.

Police and Crime Stoppers of Oakland are offering up to $1,500 in reward money for information leading to the arrest of the suspects. Anyone with information may call police at 510-238-3326 or a tip line at 510-773-2805.

The robbery was the eighth such incident involving a member of the media in Oakland since April. Guns were pulled on some of the victims.